Disclaimer-I don't own anything....sigh

I would like to thank my sister for editing this story. Believe me you wouldn't want to see the orginal ahahah

--------------

Purifier?

Kagome hobbled along until she outranged the penetrating stare of the Guardian. She then began the mundane task of collecting scrapes of wood. Corsico allowed her to pile the logs on his broad back. Never did he let the girl outside the range of his lethal tail.

'I will never let anyone harm her ever again...never, God, I wish I could talk to her,' Corsico thought.

Corsico was unable to communicate with Kagome because of what he was and who had fashioned him. Manticores were indeed the product of some Guardian's boredom and there in lie the problem.

A Guardian would never want one of their creations aiding or abetting the enemy. So, Corsico could only converse with other creations of the Guardians or the Guardians themselves.

'It's just not fair,' Corsico whined sighing deeply.

Kagome sensed her companion's distress. Running a delicate hand through his thick mane she cooed, "Aw, what's wrong little one?"

Her soothing touch and gentle words would have relaxed the animal had it not been for the bloody rag that bound her hand. It was another painful reminder of his inability to help. Instantaneously

Kagome ripped her hand away spinning to face the dark wood that encompassed them.

"Kikyo!" she cried, "I know you're here!"

The devilish woman sauntered out of the mist. Followed by another shadow, she was not alone.

"I have found someone of interest, dear Kagome," she said in a mock tone of sincerity.

Kagome shifted her vision, focusing on the other dark figure. She eyed the tall form, he was beautiful. His charcoal hair tumbled elegantly down his broad shoulders. An eerie after glow clung to his skin. His black eyes were glazed with a red sheen, this being's very presence made Kagome's instincts fire.

'My God,' Kagome prayed, 'who is this. I sense only emptiness...darkness.'

It took all her willpower to stop the trembling that was plaguing her knees. His dark aura seemed to penetrate through flesh and bone, gnawing at her very soul.

Kikyo broke the oppressive silence, "Your not much of a Purifier are you?" she cooed while she approached. "You can barely use magic, you don't have a true form, oh yes and you are nearly mortal," she mocked.

Corsico allowed an audible growl to escape his throat.

Un-phased Kikyo continued, "Oh and how could I forget you hold terrible company."

Unable to hold his temper any longer Corsico lashed his tail violently at the offender. Kikyo merely raised her hand stopping the appendage in midair.

"I am sorry, I did not notice you," Kikyo allowed a half smile to flicker across her desolate face, "allow me to remove this annoyance."

The woman merely concentrated her glare on the manticore. Immediately, the creature was slammed into a nearby tree. Corsico attempted to right himself but was met by a powerful barrier. He struggled violently against the crushing magic, clawing desperately at the earth.

Kagome did not have time to look to her fallen friend, for Kikyo was continuing her assault.

The woman circled Kagome as a wolf would a cornered piece of prey, continuously nipping at it's trapped quarry.

"So, I have spent the last era trying to figure out how one such as you, could be like one such as I," Kikyo spat, "I came to the realization that you are not a Purifier at all, in fact you are a creation of the dark one. Sent here to confuse and muddle the true followers of God."

Kagome was stunned at her conclusion. She struggled to find her voice, "What? I have been since the beginning. Never have..."

"Hush! I do not want to hear your deceitful rebuttal. Now allow me to introduce you to the true child of God"

The man stepped forward, "This is Onigumo." Kikyo's stoic façade returned, "So, now that we have made our introductions, we must be off but fear not soon you shall be cleaned off this world." Kikyo turned to leave the shocked girl.

Kagome sputtered. "Where are the others...what have you done to them?"

Kikyo slid back into the dark embrace off the forest followed by her companion. Kagome could take no more her body broke into sporadic convulsions. The images that plagued her flashed back through her mind.

'No! Leave me be' She could feel the cold bite of emptiness eroding her sanity. She bled a frenzied prayer, for it all to end, she clung frantically to the earth.

Corsico watched her from a distance again he had failed. The pain that washed over him was far greater than anything Kikyo could inflict. No longer did he feel worthy of giving protection. He transformed back into the tiny fluff ball, he felt fit him far better.

Slowly, her mind began to clear. A stream of tears trickled down her flush face. 'No, I must be stronger than this. I am what I am' but she could not even agree with herself.

The other side fired back 'She's right you know we're not much of a Purifier'

Kagome struggled against this new voice 'this is ludicrous, I can't be talking to a voice in my head...I'm fine...now. I better get back. Not that the Guardian would miss me...gezz, I don't even know his name.'



Kagome was sure that Kikyo had called him something but it had been lost on her due to the state she had been in.

Kagome looked at the tiny trembling manticore, a rush of pity crashed into her "Come here, little one," She beckoned as a warm smile enveloped her features, "Are you ok? You were so brave back there."

Corsico lifted his eyes, 'She's always makes me feel better...I wish I could do the same for her.'

Kagome knelt next to the tiny manticore, wrapping her thin arms around him in a tender hug.

"Come on lets go back," Kagome whispered.

Corsico scurried up the woman's back until he was delicately perched atop her shoulder. Firewood completely forgotten the pair headed back to a very disgruntled Guardian.

------------------------------

Thanks for reading